She had herbal lemon
and I with my orange pekoe
we twined words and
fenced with steaming batons/spoons
she went to pour me seconds

"Mom, I have something to tell you."
Her eyes lifted
expecting kiss-crushes
or a spiked-punch tale
sparkling, unsure whether to smile

I told her how he touched me
How I cringed
How I died at his hands

The dropped pekoe leaves fractured
bleeding sunlight
on the table.